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Buffalo Destroyers Game Notes

March 18, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
TV: None
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM Jim Brinson and Bob Trimble
Web: www.buffalodestroyers.com/warzone.html Live Stats and Scores
Officials: Bill McCabe (Referee), Doug Wilson (Umpire), Royce Cooley (Head Linesman), Gary Cavaletto (Line Judge), Joe Duncan (Back Judge)
Series Record: Buffalo leads 4-0
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (3-4, 1st season) Las Vegas, Frank Haege (11-9, 2nd season)

THE SERIES:

Buffalo 52 @ New Jersey 45, June 23, 2002
@ Buffalo 53 New Jersey 51, April 19, 2002
Buffalo 51 @ New Jersey 31, June 1, 2001
@ Buffalo 39 New Jersey 28, April 21, 2001

HEAD COACH: Ron Selesky earned 2002 af2 Coach of the Year honors guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular season mark of 13-3 and the Northeast Division championship. The Conquest also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 Arena Cup playoffs. Selesky compiled an overall record of 19-13 in two seasons in the af2 during the regular season with a 1-1 playoff mark.

Selesky joined the Conquest after leading the expansion Louisville Fire to a 6-10 mark in 2001. Prior to his stint in Louisville, Selesky spent one season as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Carolina Cobras. He was the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. While Selesky was in Tampa Bay, the Storm compiled a 31-11 regular-season record and earned a berth in ArenaBowl XII in 1998.

Selesky played college football at North Central College (Division III) in Naperville, Illinois, where he was a four-year starter at left offensive tackle. Following his college career, he played in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987 and attended NFL camps in San Diego (1988), Miami (1990) and Detroit (1992).

GAME PREVIEW: Buffalo will play its first game against a division opponent, the Las Vegas Gladiators. Buffalo has never lost in four meetings against the Gladiators franchise and is 1-0 this season when playing on Sundays. Sunday's game is Unsung Heroes Day where the Destroyers will honor the men and women who serve in the armed forces, police and fire departments as well as emergency service. Fans are encouraged to wear red, white and blue to show their pride and patriotism.

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: Buffalo finishes its two game home stand hosting the Detroit Fury next Sunday, March 30 at 3:00 p.m. at the HSBC Arena.

DESTROYERS RADIO NETWORK: The Buffalo Destroyers will have 13 of 16 games broadcast on radio this season. WNSA 107.7 FM in Buffalo will serve as the flagship station for the second consecutive season. WJTN 1240 AM in Jamestown, NY and WSPQ 1330 AM in Springville, NY will pick up all 13 games this season as well.

BUFFALODESTROYERS.com: For all the latest news on the Destroyers, log on to www.buffalodestroyers.com. During games, click on the Warzone for live scoring and stats. LAST WEEK: San Jose 58 Buffalo 41 The Destroyers gave the defending ArenaBowl champions everything they had but it wasn't enough as the San Jose Sabercats came away with a 58-41 victory in front of 13, 407 fans at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

Buffalo came out firing as QB Jeff Loots connected with OS Gunnard Twyner on the game's first play for a 45 yard touchdown. The Sabercats Clevan Thomas would put San Jose on the board when he returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown, the extra point was missed as Buffalo led 7-6. San Jose QB Mark Grieb would hook up with WR/LB James Roe for the first of his three touchdowns in the first half to give the Sabercats a 13-7 advantage after the first period. Loots found a diving Twyner in the end zone for a 22 yard strike in the second quarter to pull Buffalo within five at 19-14. After a San Jose rushing touchdown and two more touchdown receptions by Roe, San Jose led at the half 32-14.

The third quarter provided many fireworks for Buffalo. Thomas returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, his second of the game, to put San Jose ahead 39-14, but on the ensuing kickoff, Buffalo's Jarrail Jackson returned the favor with a 55 yard return for a touchdown of his own. Buffalo got within 11 points when DS JoJo Polk picked off Grieb and returned it 20 yards for the score, Buffalo was down 39-28. Grieb would hit Roe for the fourth time to go up 46-28 but Buffalo would just not go away. On San Jose's next offensive drive, Grieb fumbled and Buffalo OL/DL Ken Bouie recovered the ball. Jackson would run it in from two yards out as Buffalo remained close at 46-35 after three periods.

In the fourth, San Jose took the wind of the Destroyers sails putting together a 13 play 49 yard drive which ate up 9:07 on the clock ending with Grieb finding Roe for a fifth time making the score 52-35 midway through the fourth. Loots tossed a 25 yard score to WR/LB Cornelius White for the Destroyers only points of the quarter.

Loots finished 19 of 32 for 240 yards three touchdowns and two interceptions. Twyner led all receivers with 117 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Buffalo 52 New Jersey 45 June 23, 2002, Continental Airlines Arena The Buffalo Destroyers took over first place in the Eastern Division with a 52-45 win over the New Jersey Gladiators at the Continental Airlines Arena. Both teams scored on their first two possessions of the game. QB Fred McNair hit WR/DB Carlos James with a 16 yard strike and OS Lamont Cooper on a 45 yard pass as the first period ended 14-14.

The Destroyers opened the second quarter with a K Steve McLaughlin 22 yard field goal to go up 17-14. After a Gladiator field goal, FB/LB John Motton reeled in a 36 yard pass from McNair to go up 24-17. New Jersey shot right back when QB Jay McDonagh hit OS Mike Horacek for the third time in the first half tying the game at 24 with 52 seconds left. McLaughlin missed a 36 yard field goal just before half and the ensuing drive DS Dwaine Carpenter intercepted a "Hail Mary" as time expired in the first half with the score tied at 24.

McLaughlin opened the third quarter with a 51 yard field goal as Buffalo grabbed a 27-24 lead. Buffalo's defense stopped the Gladiators on a fourth down and two deep in Buffalo's end, then Bret Cooper caught a 26 yard touchdown from McNair to extend their lead to 34-24. McDonagh tossed his fourth touchdown of the game hitting WR/LB Dennison Robinson for a 28 yard touchdown to pull New Jersey within three at the end of the third as Buffalo led 34-31.

In the fourth, McNair threaded the needle to James as they hooked up for the second time with a 28 yard touchdown, Buffalo led 41-31. New Jersey kept pace with a McDonagh two yard touchdown run, but McLaughlin hit a 46 yard field goal to put Buffalo up 44-38. WR/LB Thomas Bailey picked off McDonagh and returned it to the New Jersey nine yard line and after a holding penalty McNair hit Bailey for a 19 yard score. Bret Cooper ran in the two point conversion as Buffalo went up to stay.

McNair was named Game MVP passing 19 of 35 for 306 yards and a season high six touchdowns. It was his 13th career 300-yard passing game. James picked up his fifth Ironman award in six weeks with four receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 3.5 tackles. DS Dwaine Carpenter was named Defensive Player of the Game with a game high nine tackles an interception and one pass defense.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Buffalo WR/DB James Bowden played for the Gladiators in 2002 and was their fifth leading receiver with 22 catches for 264 yards and four touchdowns.

· Buffalo OL/DL Alex Houston played for the Gladiators in 2001 appearing in three games and collecting three tackles.

· Buffalo OL/DL Jerry Sharp played six games for the Gladiators in 2001 posting four tackles.

· Buffalo OL/DL Otis Moore spent last season with the Gladiators. Moore had 14 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception.

· Gladiators OL/DL Jerry Crafts played two seasons in Buffalo from 2001-02. Crafts holds the Destroyers record for longest interception return for touchdown at 39 yards.

· Gladiators QB Jay McDonagh played for Buffalo in three games in 1999 passing for 179 yards and three touchdowns.

· Gladiators OL/DL Wilky Bazile played the 2000 season with Buffalo recording two sacks and 4.5 tackles.

· Gladiators OL/DL Richard McCleskey was in camp last season with Buffalo.

TEAM NOTES:

On The Money: QB Jeff Loots has thrown 17 touchdown passes this season and only four interceptions in five games. He currently has a 4.25/1 touchdown to interception ratio.

Hometown Hero: Cheektowaga native and Buffalo State alum OL/DL Mark Valvo will play in front of his hometown fans this weekend for the first time since his senior season at Buffalo State 11 years ago. He signed to the active roster from the practice squad March 11 and made his Destroyers debut last week vs. San Jose. Valvo originally signed with Buffalo as a free agent in the off-season while he recovered from partial quadriceps tendon tears in both of his knees, an injury he suffered with the Indiana Firebirds last season. Destroyers team doctor Marc Fineberg examined Valvo and cleared Valvo to practice last month as Valvo was signed to practice squad on February 27.

Double Trouble: DS JoJo Polk picked off San Jose QB Mark Grieb last week and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Week four @ Georgia, Polk returned a kickoff 11 yards for a touchdown.

Otis, My Man: OL/DL Otis Moore, who signed with the Destroyers March 11, currently is tied for sixth place all-time in the AFL with 11 forced fumbles. Ironically, Moore is tied with current Destroyers FB/LB coach Chad Lindsey. Moore is also 10th all-time with 14.5 tackles for loss.

That A Boy, Rook: WR/DB Chuck Wesley made his pro football debut week four @ Georgia posting one tackle and one interception. Two weeks ago @ Tampa, Wesley scored his first career touchdown after FB/LB Anthony Hicks intercepted a pass and pitched it to Wesley who ran it in from 19 yards out.

They Can Play "D": The Destroyers forced a franchise record five turnovers week four @ Georgia. WR/DB Jarrail Jackson and WR/DB Chuck Wesley both notched their first career interceptions in the first quarter. WR/LB Cornelius White picked off a pass in the third quarter returning it 31 yards for a touchdown. Buffalo also forced two fumbles. They are second in the AFL with a +8 turnover margin.

1-2 Punch: The Destroyers DS tandem of Dwaine Carpenter and JoJo Polk rank among the league leaders in tackles, interceptions and pass defenses.

Right On Side: Buffalo returned two onside kicks for touchdowns in the fourth quarter week four @ Georgia. With 3:05 left in the game and Buffalo holding a 49-37 lead, OL/DL Ken Bouie picked the ball out of the air returning it nine yards for the touchdown. After another Georgia touchdown, DS JoJo Polk took the onside kick back 11 yards for another Buffalo touchdown.

Not In My House: The Destroyers allowed only 16 points week two against Carolina. That is the fewest points by an opponent in team history. The previous record was set last season (May 11, 2002) when the Destroyers held the Detroit Fury to 21 points.

Getting Defensive: Destroyers DS Dwaine Carpenter was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in week two's 44-16 victory over the Carolina Cobras. This is the second time in his career that he was won this award. Carpenter was named Game MVP finishing with 3.5 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups. His total of five passes defensed ties his own Destroyers single game record, which he set last season vs. Toronto.

Dialing Long Distance: Buffalo QB Jeff Loots hit OS Gunnard Twyner on a 49 yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half against Carolina week two. That touchdown is the longest pass play in team history. The previous mark was 46 yards, which was done twice (Jim Kubiak to Kevin Mason vs. Carolina on May 18, 2001 and Browning Nagle to Chris Perry vs. Los Angeles on July 14, 2000).

Ironman: Buffalo WR/LB Cornelius White was selected Ironman of the Game week two vs. Carolina and week three vs. Arizona. White missed the season opener with a pulled hamstring. In his first two games with the Destroyers, White caught seven passes for 146 yards and four touchdowns. He added eight tackles on defense including 1.5 for loss.

Long and Short: FB/LB Juan Long has rushed for four touchdowns this season. In his previous four seasons in the AFL, Long had two rushing touchdowns.

JJ is Dy-No-Mite: OS Jarrail Jackson is ninth in the AFL in kick return average at 23.0 yards per return. He returned one for a touchdown week two vs. Carolina and another one last week @ San Jose. He returned another down to the one yard line week three vs. Arizona. All three returns were 55 yards.

Don't Call It a Comeback: On July 15, 2000, DS JoJo Polk, playing cornerback for the af2 Tulsa Talons against the Charleston SwampFoxes, deflected a pass and crashed headfirst into the padded wall that surrounded the 50-yard field. He blacked out. When he came to, doctors told him he would never walk again. Polk had a broken bone in his neck, and doctors said he would probably be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Polk returned to the field the very next season and led the Grand Rapids Rampage in tackles helping them win the ArenaBowl Championship.

I Love NY: Six Destroyers players have New York connections. OL/DL Mark Valvo was born and raised in Buffalo. OL/DL Terry Grooms played football at Rochester's East High School. OL/DL Alex Houston played football at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. WR/LB Sir Mawn Wilson and OL/DL Jerry Sharp attended Syracuse University. OL/DL Hardy Mitchell attended the University at Buffalo.

Championship Experience: Five Destroyers players have won ArenaBowl Championships. QB Jeff Loots (Arizona 1997, Albany 1999), OL/DL Mark Valvo (Albany 1999), WR/LB Cornelius White (Albany 1999), OL/DL John Summerday (Albany 1999) and DS JoJo Polk (Grand Rapids 2001). OL/DL Ken Bouie won an ArenaCup (af2) championship last season with the Peoria Pirates.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 18, 2003


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